About the program
The Victorian Government’s New and Upgraded Dog Parks program seeks to improve the state's open space network by committing $13.4 million to ensure that Victorians have easy access to much needed green open space to exercise, relax or enjoy the outdoors with their dogs.
This investment will provide funding to specific public land managers to design and deliver the new and upgraded dog parks across Victoria in two rounds. This program also supports the continued implementation of the Victorian Government’s Open Space for Everyone Strategy 2021.
This program aims to:
- Invest in and optimise underutilised public land for Victorians to connect with their communities and exercise their dogs;
- Invest in off-leash areas to meet the growing demand for people to socialise and exercise their dog off-leash;
- Facilitate upgrades of existing dog off-leash areas to support contemporary needs and future longevity;
- Contribute to urban greening, cooling and shading of local neighbourhoods;
- Improve connectivity of open spaces with other points of interest and activity;
- Increase accessibility and safety of park users for all abilities and all genders; and
- Support involvement of Traditional Custodians.
The first round of this program will focus on targeted grants to local councils for the delivery of six new dog parks and 13 dog park upgrades across Victoria with total funding committed of $7.685 million.
The second round of this program is a competitive grants program with $5 million in funding available for local councils to design and deliver projects that enable people to socialise and exercise their dogs off-leash in areas of greatest need across Victoria. Grants of up to $300,000 are available. Round 2 applications will open on 19 August 2024 and close on 14 October 2024.
Round 2
Program guidelines
New and Upgraded Dog Parks - Round 2 Program Guidelines
New and Upgraded Dog Parks - Round 2 Program Guidelines (accessible version)
Program briefing
All 79 Victorian councils are eligible to apply for Round 2 of the program. An online program briefing was held for council officers to attend on Monday 19 August 2024.
The recording of the program briefing is available to watch online below or can be found here.
The slides from the briefing can be viewed here: New and Upgraded Dog Parks - Round 2 program briefing presentation slides
During the application period
Online application form
The online application form can be found here: New & Upgraded Dog Parks Round 2 - Application form.
Only one application can be submitted by each Victorian Council.
Q&As
During the application period, applicants can submit questions about the application or guidelines by emailing the Open Space team at open.space@deeca.vic.gov.au. The Q&A period will end at 12:00pm on 3 October 2024. Any questions received after this time may not be able to be answered by DEECA before applications close on 14 October 2024.
Responses to all questions will be published for all applicants during the application period. Q&As will be updated every Thursday.
Key dates
Key dates may be subject to change. Eligible organisations will be advised of any changes accordingly.
| Program guidelines provided to eligible organisations | Early August 2024 |
| Program briefing | 19 August 2024 |
| Applications open | 19 August 2024 |
| Applications close | 14 October 2024 |
| Applications assessment and funding decision | Late 2024 |
| Applicants notified | Early 2025 |
| Project funding agreements established | Early 2025 |
| Projects formally commence | Early to mid-2025 |
| Project construction completed | No later than 31 October 2026 |
| Final reports and financial acquittals submitted to DEECA | No later than 31 December 2026 |
Cliff Whitworth Reserve Dog Park, Essendon West (Photo credit: Daniel at Artificial Studio)
Round 1 projects
In 2024 the New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program awarded $7.685 million in grants to support 19 projects. Round 1 provided capped funding opportunities to specific eligible organisations for the purpose of delivering new and upgraded dog parks in identified locations.
| Delivery partner | Location | Funding amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brimbank City Council | Sydenham Basin Reserve, Sydenham | $600,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Alma Treloar Reserve, Cockatoo | $300,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Officer District Park, Officer | $400,000 |
| City of Casey | Essex Park Bush Reserve, Endeavour Hills | $480,000 |
| Glen Eira City Council | Caulfield Racecourse Wedge - Pawfield Park, Caulfield East | $300,000 |
| City of Greater Geelong | Sparrovale Wetland Reserve, Charlemont | $550,000 |
| Hume City Council | John Ilhan Reserve, Meadow Heights | $265,000 |
| Knox City Council | Wantirna Reserve, Wantirna | $800,000 |
| Manningham City Council | Burgundy Reserve, Doncaster | $400,000 |
| Manningham City Council | Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte | $300,000 |
| City of Monash | Mount Waverley Linear Reserve, Mount Waverley | $500,000 |
| Moonee Valley City Council | Travancore Park, Travancore | $300,000 |
| Moorabool Shire Council | Masons Lane Reserve, Bacchus Marsh | $400,000 |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | Diamond Creek Dog Park, Diamond Creek | $300,000 |
| City of Whittlesea | Allumba Park, Wollert | $500,000 |
| City of Whittlesea | Whittlesea Public Gardens, Lalor | $340,000 |
| Wyndham City Council | Cambridge Reserve, Hoppers Crossing | $350,000 |
| Yarra City Council | Smith Reserve, Fitzroy | $300,000 |
| Yarra City Council | Quarries Park, Clifton Hill | $300,000 |
Completed dog parks
Since 2018, 31 new dog parks have been delivered across Melbourne and regional Victoria through two programs to create more space for our four-legged friends to run and play.
This included an investment of $5 million towards 14 off-leash dog parks in metropolitan Melbourne under the Suburban Parks Program, and a further $2.5 million for the creation of 17 off-leash dog parks across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne under the Eco Stimulus Building Works package.
Find out more about the completed dog parks here.
More information
For information and enquires please email the Open Space Programs team at open.space@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Page last updated: 09/09/24